That holds true particularly in the case of Pilipinas Shell which has embarked on a major expansion to usher in the era of electric vehicles.
At least 10 Pilipinas Shell retail stations will showcase electric charging stations starting December, a move that challenges the rest of the traditional oil industry players.
Pilipinas Shell partnered with QEV Philippines to put up the first electric vehicle fast charging infrastructure network in the country.
QEV Philippines, a partnership between Spanish businessmen Endika Aboitiz and Enrique Banuelos signed the agreement with Pilipinas Shell chief executive officer and president Cesar Romero early this month.
The agreement calls for an initial 100 pilot sites for the EV charging posts with 10 sites due for completion by December.
“Shell is an innovative energy company, a willing and able player in the Energy transition to a low carbon energy future. Shell will be the only Retail Station that will offer a universal EV Charging Station in the country,” the company said.
Pilipinas Shell emphasized that it is a willing and able player in the energy transition to a low carbon energy future.
“Electric vehicles are non-carbon emitting vehicles that contribute to this direction. QEV’s plan to introduce e-vehicles in the country require charging stations in strategically located areas. This synergy between QEV and Shell led to the eventual decision of Shell to put up the proposed charging stations in our facilities,” it said.
The system is new to the country as the current retail stations only carry oil products such as diesel, gasoline and kerosene.
This has raised questions on the safety of putting an electric vehicle charging station and fuel pumps in one station although the system has been in place in other countries.
“Safety is a priority of Shell, hence, we ensure that It will be safe and within Shell safety standards,” the country’s second biggest oil firm said.
Pilipinas Shell and QEV Philippines has engaged the Department of Energy (DOE) and other relevant government agencies to help in the regulation of the said electric vehicle charging stations.
ABB, the Swiss multinational company specializing in robotics power and automation technology areas will supply the charging posts. ABB has installed EV charging posts all around Europe and in many parts of the world.
Electric vehicles have been around in the country since 2008. The country started with electric jeepneys that plies the Makati Green Route.
Pilipinas Shell is bullish about the emerging electric vehicle industry and has taken a leap of faith with its partner QEV.
“QEV is planning to convert existing jeepneys with diesel engines to a lithium-ion batteries over the next five years. Shell, through its strategically located retail stations will provide the needed infrastructures for the universal charging stations for all the converted jeepneys. The charging station can also accommodate private vehicles with electric engines,” the oil firm said.
QEV Philippines is banking on the government’s jeepney modernization program to jumpstart the electric vehicle industry.
QEV Philippines has proposed the conversion of an initial 50,000 jeepneys over five years ( or 10,000 jeepneys per year) by replacing their diesel engines with lithium-ion batteries.
QEV Philippines said one of the main reasons for the slow uptake of electric vehicles has been the lack of supporting charging infrastructure and set its sights to establish the first EV charging infrastructure network in the Philippines.
This issue on EV infra is being addressed by Pilipinas Shell, through parent firm Royal Dutch/Shell Group, which has put up electric vehicle charging stations, mainly in the Netherlands and Great Britain.
The oil firm is making the bold move to quickly adapt in an ever changing automobile market with electric cars increasing in popularity and the fast transition of car fleets from combustion engines to electric.
QEV Philippines, for its part, aims to promote a sustainable solution for healthier, cleaner cities by reducing the amount of carbon emissions in the air brought about by transportation.
“With the growing problem of climate change, QEV seeks to spearhead the green electromobility movement in emerging countries such as the Philippines,” it said.
QEV Philippines’ green jeepneys are also expected to revitalize the country’s long-running jeepney industry by paving the way for local jeepney manufacturers to enter the electric solutions industry via building, renewal, and maintenance trainings.
QEV Philippines proposes rehabilitating old jeepneys and make them like new, complete with electrical motors that will make it run on electricity instead of diesel.
